Anyone else counting on a Geelong/Hawthorn grand final?
I should also say that I am a West Coast supporter. The club’s efforts at tanking this season to improve its draft picks makes me think that the AFL should have a relegation system like the English Premier League. Let SANFL and WAFL clubs have a go at getting into the AFL if the AFL clubs are going to behave like this.
Nothing wrong with being a West Coast Eagles supporter. I like them too, although it’s not easy following them from Canada. (I was back and forth to Perth for a few years, and caught the bug–even went to a few games when they played at Subiaco.) Did they seem to intentionally crap out this year? As you might guess, I’m not up on what’s been happening in the AFL, so any news is most welcome.
Oh dear, well you missed:
a. Ben Cousins being effectively delisted for, one assumes and everyone knows, a nasty drug habit.
b. former player and TV presenter Chris Mainwaring dying of a drug overdose after just having met with Cousins.
c. Chris Judd, the Eagles captain and easily the best player in the AFL, quitting and moving to Carlton. Ostensible reason was to move home to Melbourne.
d. the AFL commissioned a retired judge to investigate the club. The judge’s report has not been made public.
Team morale this year is shattered. They were second from the bottom - barely missed out on their first wooden spoon.
I was in Perth when Mick Malthouse did essentially the same thing: he “retired” then promptly went to coaching Collingwood. Eagles fans were definitely not happy–I well remember the outrage that went on for days in the pages of the West Australian. With good reason too; Malthouse was a big reason for the Eagles’ success in those days.
Seems like there has been lots of scandal though. Any chance that judge’s report will be made public?
You missed the “consorting with gangsters” angle Dave. Amongst other things, sadly.
As a Saints supporter, I hope to lose to the Handbaggers in the granie.
Ah, yes, the local Northbridge identities. Footballers here have a bad habit of hanging out with reputed drug dealers, and Cousins’ physique suggests the consumed a lot of speed.
The Hawks crushed the Saints last night in the semi-final. Roughead scored 4 goals. Watching Hodge cough up blood after a big hit and not want his team mates to know by taking aside the team doctor when he was bein tested with a stethoscope was courageous - like everyone else watching the game I thought he had broken a rib.
It was a sad end of a 17 year career for Robert Harvey. Astonishing that he started playing when he was 17, equally astonishing that he was still going into his mid-30s. Good form that both teams gave him a guard of honour as he left the field.
Extremely unlikely at this stage. He interviewed lot of players and staff. I suspect it would damage the reputation of the game if released, and it must be so controversial that its not even been leaked.
Hodge was quite something. He was pretty effective right through 'til the end too.
The shades of the 89 GF versus Geelong will not have been lost on the Hawthorn people.
The Saints got utterly smashed, but the washup is that they should be pleased with the second half of their season but understand that where they are now is disappointing given where they were five years ago.
It is an unusual thing to end up with the Grand Final that was the popular pick as long ago as April. Hope it’s a good 'un.
It should indeed be a good game. Geelong are favourites with their devastating form but the Hawks should put up a good fight.